Venclexta/venetoclax Cost, Side effects, Uses for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Venclexta/venetoclax Cost, Side effects, Uses for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Venclexta is manufactured by AbbVie Inc. of North Chicago, Illinois, and marketed by AbbVie and Genentech USA Inc. of South San Francisco, California. The Vysis CLL FISH probe kit is manufactured by Abbott Molecular of Des Plaines, Illinois.

 Venclexta is indicated for daily use after detection of 17p deletion is confirmed through the use of the FDA-approved companion diagnostic Vysis CLL FISH probe kit. Venclexta is the first FDA-approved treatment that targets the B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) protein, which supports cancer cell growth and is overexpressed in many patients with CLL.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults, with approximately 15,000 new cases diagnosed each year. CLL is characterized by the progressive accumulation of abnormal lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Patients with CLL who have a 17p deletion lack a portion of the chromosome that acts to suppress cancer growth. This chromosomal abnormality occurs in approximately 10 percent of patients with untreated CLL and in approximately 20 percent of patients with relapsed CLL.

Venclexta/venetoclax Side effects

The most common side effects of Venclexta include

• Low white blood cell count
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Anemia
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
• Fatigue. 

Serious complications can include 

• Pneumonia
• Neutropenia with fever
• Fever
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
• Anemia
• Metabolic abnormalities known as tumor lysis syndrome. 
• Live attenuated vaccines should not be given to patients taking Venclexta.

 Venclexta/venetoclax Uses

Venclexta is used for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have a chromosomal abnormality called 17p deletion and who have been treated with at least one prior therapy.

 Venclexta/venetoclax Dosage

Venclexta dosing frequency may depend upon you condition and severity of disease. However standard dosing frequency is  20mg once a day for 1 week and then you may increase the potency of dose up-to 100mg with same frequency.